Beijing indicated that the Kailash Mansarovar yatra, a major confidence-building measure between India and China, will be used as leverage in the stand-off along the frontier in Sikkim.

indiaUpdated: Jun 27, 2017 23:50 IST

Sutirtho Patranobis Hindustan Times, Beijing

Chinese army officers oversee preparations as they stand between pictures of the Patola Palace, left, and the Chinese flag, on the Chinese side of the international border at Nathula Pass, in northeastern Indian state of Sikkim.(AP)

China on Tuesday lodged protests in Beijing and New Delhi against Indian soldiers’ “trespassing” into its territory and indicated the Mansarovar Yatra would remain suspended till India “withdrew” its troops.

In a late-night statement, China cited an 1890 treaty signed between the British-Indian government and the then ruling Chinese Qing dynasty on Sikkim to say India was violating rules established 127 years ago.

The statement by the ministry of foreign affairs (MFA) said according to the treaty, the border region contested by India is located on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

“The first paragraph of the Sino-British Treaty on Sikkim-Tibet Convention of 1890 stipulates (explanation of Art 1 of the treaty). According to the treaty, “zhe” is the ancient name of Sikkim. According to this treaty, the border area of area contested by Indian side is located on the Chinese side of the border,” the statement said.

Quoting the treaty, the Chinese government said: “The Sikkim segment of the China-India border is recognised by both China and India, which has been recognised by successive Indian governments.”

“Compliance with these treaties and documents is an international obligation that is not to be shirked by the Indian side,” the statement said.

The fate of the Indian pilgrims didn’t figure in the MFA statement.

“As to the Indian pilgrims’ journey through Nathu La pass in the Sikkim section, I think the Indian side is very clear about it. For a long time, the Chinese government has made enormous efforts to provide necessary convenience for those Indian pilgrims. But recently, the Indian border personnel trespassed the Chinese border to obstruct construction so we have taken necessary actions,” ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Tuesday.

China had put the pilgrimage on hold out of security concerns, he said.

Chinese officials army at Nathula Pass .
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“So for the upcoming actions we have to depend on what the Indian side will do. They have to take actions to improve the security situation,” Lu said, spelling out the bargain.

It also said because of the trouble in the area, Beijing suspended the 21-day pilgrimage through Nathu La.

It’s rare for China to officially accuse India of incursion across the LAC but the face-off between the forces in Sikkim – and the media reports and reaction in India – would have convinced Beijing to come out with not one but two statements within hours.

It is also the first time that Beijing has specified the reason for suspending the annual pilgrimage after a weekend of silence.

At a regular ministry briefing on Tuesday, Lu said Beijing had lodged protests with the Indian embassy and with relevant authorities in New Delhi.

“We have lodged solemn representations in Beijing and New Delhi to elaborate on our solemn position. Our position to uphold our territorial sovereignty is unwavering. We hope the Indian side can work with China in the same direction and take immediate withdraw the personnel who have overstepped and trespassed into Chinese border,” Lu said.

Earlier news agency PTI reported from New Delhi that Indian and Chinese troops scuffled near the Doka La area in the first week of June before soldiers from Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) damaged bunkers on the Indian side.

Both the PLA and the Chinese foreign ministry gave a different version of events.

Recently, Indian border guards in Sikkim section crossed into China, obstructed Chinese border troops in the Donglong area and “China has taken corresponding measures”, the ministry had said in a terse statement.

It came soon after the PLA released a statement on Monday night, blaming the Indian military of creating trouble along the Sikkim LAC.

Inaugurated in June 2015, the Nathu La route — administered by the Tibet Autonomous Region government on the Chinese side — cut short the trekking time to Kailash Mansarovar, allowing pilgrims to make the journey on bus.

Till then, every year 18 batches of 60 Indians undertook the journey through the Lipu Lekh pass in Uttarkhand, close to Nepal border. The route, which is still operational, is tougher.